Knotted Suture End Effector

ABSTRACT

A suture including a knotted end effector is provided. The suture includes a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and an end effector integrally formed from the body portion. The end effector includes first and second extensions extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions. Each of the first and second extensions includes at least one throw.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No.: 12/571,806, filed Oct. 1, 2009, which claims benefit of andpriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/104,085, filed Oct. 9,2008, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to sutures for use in medical procedures.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a knotted endeffector for a suture.

2. Background of Related Art

Medical sutures may be formed from a variety of materials and may beconfigured for use in limitless applications. The proximal end of thesuture may have a sharpened tip or may include a needle for penetratingtissue. A distal end of the suture may include an anchor or end effectorfor maintaining the suture in engagement with the tissue as the sutureis pulled through the tissue. End effectors are available in many sizeand configurations. Typically, an end effector is formed independentlyof the suture and is later attached to the distal end of the suture.

In many instances, a clinician may prefer to tie a knot in the suture toanchor the suture within the tissue. Although the clinician may findthis practice convenient, the knot formed on the end of the tissue isnot always suitable to prevent the suture from being pulled through thetissue, for example, when the knot slips or is too small to engage thetissue. Additionally, the tying of a knot, especially with the finesuture material required for use in many procedures, is tedious and timeconsuming.

Therefore, a continuing need exists for a knotted end effector and amethod of making a knotted end effector.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a suture including a knotted end effector is provided. Thesuture includes a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and an endeffector integrally formed from the body portion. The end effectorincludes first and second extensions extending outwardly from thelongitudinal axis in opposite directions. Each of the first and secondextensions include at least one throw. The end effector may besubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first andsecond extensions may include a plurality of throws. The first and/orsecond extension may include three (3) throws. The end effector mayinclude substantially T-shape and may be formed on a distal end of thebody portion.

Also provided is a method of forming an end effector. The methodincludes the steps of providing a length of suture, crossing a first endof the suture over a second end of a suture to form a first loop,wrapping the first end of the suture around the suture within the firstloop “n” number of times, placing the suture about a fixture between thefirst loop and the first end, wrapping the first end of the suturearound the fixture to form a second loop, wrapping the first end of thesuture around the suture within the first loop “m” number of times,pulling the first and second ends in opposite directions to tighten thefirst and second loops about the fixture, threading the first end of thesuture through the second loop to form a third loop, threading thesecond end of the suture through the second loop to form a third loop,removing the suture from the fixture, pulling the third and fourth loopsin opposite directions to tighten the first and second loops and pullingthe first and second ends of the suture in opposite directions totighted the third and fourth loops.

The method may further include the step of trimming the first end of thesuture. The fixture may include a channel for receiving first and secondends of the suture. The step of threading the first end of the suturethrough the second loop may be performed from the top down or from thebottom up. The step of threading the second end of the suture throughthe second loop may be performed from the top down or from the bottomup. Variables “n” and “m” may be equal or different. In one embodiment,variables “n” and “m” may equal three (3).

Further provided is a suture including a body portion defining alongitudinal axis and an end effector integrally formed from the bodyportion. The end effector includes first and second extensions extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis in opposite directions. Each ofthe first and second extensions are undulated. The first and secondextensions may each include a plurality of throws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosureand, together with a general description of the disclosure given above,and the detailed description of the embodiment(s) given below, serve toexplain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a back view of an end effector according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the end effector of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-15 show sequential steps of a method of forming the end effectorof FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an end effectoraccording to the present disclosure is shown generally as end effector10. Although, as shown, end effector 10 is formed on a distal end 12 bof suture 12, end effector 10 may be formed anywhere along the length ofsuture 12.

Suture 12 may be formed of degradable materials, non-degradablematerials, and combinations thereof. More particularly, suture 12 may beformed of a degradable material selected from the group consisting ofpolyesters, polyorthoesters, polymer drugs, polydroxybutyrates,lactones, proteins, cat gut, collagens, carbonates, homopolymersthereof, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof. In otherembodiments, suitable degradable materials which may be utilized to formsuture 12 include natural collagenous materials or synthetic resinsincluding those derived from alkylene carbonates such as trimethylenecarbonate, tetramethylene carbonate, and the like; caprolactone;dioxanone; glycolic acid; lactic acid; homopolymers thereof; copolymersthereof; and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, glycolide andlactide based polyesters, especially copolymers of glycolide andlactide, may be utilized to form suture 12.

Suitable non-degradable materials which may be utilized to form suture12 include polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene;copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, and blends of polyethyleneand polypropylene; polyamides (such as nylon); polyamines; polyimines;polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate; polytetrafluoroethylene;polyether-esters such as polybutester; polytetramethylene ether glycol;1,4-butanediol; polyurethanes; and combinations thereof. Other suitablenon-degradable materials include silk, cotton, linen, carbon fibers, andthe like. The polypropylene may be isotactic polypropylene or a mixtureof isotactic and syndiotactic or atactic polypropylene.

Suture 12 may be formed using any technique within the purview of thoseskilled in the art, such as, for example, extrusion, molding and/or gelspinning In some embodiments, suture 12 may include a yarn made of morethan one filament, which may contain multiple filaments of the same ordifferent materials. Where suture 12 is made of multiple filaments,suture 12 may be made using any known technique such as, for example,braiding, weaving or knitting. Suture 12 may also be combined to producea non-woven suture. Suture 12 may be drawn, oriented, crinkled, twisted,commingled or air entangled to form yarns as part of the suture formingprocess. In one embodiment, a multifilament suture may be produced bybraiding. The braiding may be done by any method within the purview ofthose skilled in the art.

With reference still to FIGS. 1 and 2, end effector 10 is configured toprevent complete reception of suture 12 through tissue or othermaterial. End effector 10 forms a substantially T-shaped knot formed ondistal end 12 b of suture 12. End effector 10 defines an axis “Y”extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis “X” of suture 12. Endeffector 10 includes first and second extensions 20, 30 extendingperpendicularly from suture 12 in opposite directions along axis “Y” toform a T-shape. Each of first and second extension 20, 30 is formed froma plurality of throws 22 a-c, 32 a-c, respectively, thereby formingundulated members. As used herein, a throw is defined as an at leastthree-hundred and sixty degree)(360°) wrapping or weaving of two limbsand undulated is defined as having a wavelike or rippled form. As shown,first and second extensions 20, 30 each include three throws 22 a-c, 32a-c, respectively. It is envisioned, however, that first and secondextensions 20, 30 may include any number of throws 22, 32, respectively.It is further envisioned that the number of throws on first extension 20does not need to be equal to the number of throws on second extension30. A proximal end 12 a of suture 12 may include one or more needles(not shown) and/or may include one or more barbs.

The method of forming end effector 10 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 3-15. Referring initially to FIG. 3, suture 112 iscut to a desired length. The length of the suture may vary depending onthe application for which suture 112 is being used. The size of endeffector 110 may also affects the length of suture 112. The more throws122, 132 (FIG. 15) formed in respective extension 120, 130 of endeffector 110, the greater the length or size required of suture 112. Thethickness of suture 112 also affects length of suture 112.Alternatively, suture 112 may be formed on the free end of a spool ofthread (not shown) and cut to length following the forming of endeffector 10. A first, short end 114 a of suture 112 is then crossed overa second, long end 114 b of suture 112 to form a first loop 113. Firstloop 113 should be of sufficient size to permit wrapping of first end114 a through first loop 113 multiple times. Although “short” and “long”are used to refer to first and second ends 114 a, 114 b, respectively,in some embodiments, short end 114 a may actually be of equal or longerlength than long end 114 b.

Turning to FIG. 4, first end 114 a of suture 112 is then wrapped aroundsuture 112 within loop 113 “n” number of times to form “n” number ofthrows 122. As shown, first end 114 a is wrapped around suture 112 (3)three times to form three (3) throws 122 a-c. As discussed above, firstend 114 a of suture 112 may be wrapped around suture 112 within loop 113more or less than three (3) times.

With reference now to FIG. 5, first loop 113 is next placed adjacent toa fixture 50, with fixture 50 being received in the V-shaped notchbetween first loop 113 and first end 114 a. As will be discussed infurther detail below, fixture 50 includes a channel 52 extending along alength thereof.

Turning to FIG. 6, first end 114 a of suture 112 is next wrapped aroundfixture 50 to form a second loop 115. First end 114 a is then wrappedaround suture 112 within loop 113 “m” number of times to form “m” numberof throws 132. As shown, first end 114 a is wrapped around suture 112three (3) times to form three (3) throws 132 a-c. As discussed above,first end 114 a may be wrapped around suture 112 more or less than three(3) times and does not need to be equal to “n” number of throws 122formed on the opposite side of first loop 113.

With reference now to FIGS. 7 and 8, first and second ends 114 a, 114 bof suture 112 are next pulled in opposing directions, as indicated byarrows “A” and “B” (FIG. 7), thereby tightening first and second loops113, 115 about fixture 50 (FIG. 8).

As noted above, fixture 50 includes a channel 52 formed along a lengththereof to permit the passage of suture ends 114 a, 114 b through secondloop 115. With reference now to FIG. 9, first end 114 a of suture 112 isthreaded through second loop 115 by passing first end 114 a throughchannel 52 of fixture 50. It is envisioned, however, that the threadingof first end 114 a through second loop 115 may accomplished without theuse and/or presence of channel 52. First end 114 a is threaded throughsecond loop 115 from the top, as shown, to form a third loop 117. In analternative embodiment, first end 114 a of suture 112 may be threadedthrough second loop 115 from the bottom.

Referring now to FIG. 10, second end 114 b of suture 112 is nextthreaded through second loop 115, through channel 52, if present, in adirection opposite to that which first end 114 a was threaded. As shown,second end 114 b of suture 112 is threaded through second loop 115 fromthe bottom up to form a fourth loop 119. In another embodiment, secondend 114 b may be fed through second loop 115 in the same direction thatfirst end 114 a was threaded through second loop 115. In this manner,second end 114 b is threaded through second loop 115 from the top down.The direction from which short and long ends 114 a, 114 b are threadedthrough second loop 115 determines the final configuration of endeffector 110. In yet another embodiment, second end 114 b may bethreaded through second loop 115 from the top down or the bottom up, andshort end 114 b may be severed adjacent to outer throw 132 c withoutshort end 112 being threading through second loop 115.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, suture 112 is next removed fromfixture 50 (FIG. 10) and third and fourth loops 117, 119 are then pulledin opposite directions (FIG. 11) along an axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of suture 112, as indicated by arrows “C” and “D”, totighten first and second loops 113, 115 about short and long ends 114 a,114 b.

Turning now to FIG. 13, next short and long ends 114 a, 114 b are pulledin opposite directions, as indicated by arrows “E” and “F,” to tightenthird and fourth loops 117, 119 about respective throws 122 a-c, 132a-c.

With reference now to FIGS. 14 and 15, first end 114 a may then be cutas close to or as far from end effector 110 as desired. In analternative embodiment, first end 114 a may be left uncut, therebyproviding a clinician with a means for retracting suture 112.

Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it isto be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may beeffected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from thescope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, it is envisioned thatsuture 12 may include a loop formed a distal of end effector 10 topermit withdrawal of suture 12 from within tissue.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming an end effector, methodcomprising the steps of: providing a length of suture; crossing a firstend of the suture over a second end of a suture to form a first loop;wrapping the first end of the suture around the suture within the firstloop “n” number of times; placing the suture about a fixture between thefirst loop and the first end; wrapping the first end of the suturearound the fixture to form a second loop; wrapping the first end of thesuture around the suture within the first loop “m” number of times;pulling the first and second ends in opposite directions to tighten thefirst and second loops about the fixture; threading the first end of thesuture through the second loop to form a third loop; threading thesecond end of the suture through the second loop to form a third loop;removing the suture from the fixture; pulling the third and fourth loopsin opposite directions to tighten the first and second loops; andpulling the first and second ends of the suture in opposite directionsto tighten the third and fourth loops.
 2. The method of claim 1, furtherincluding the step of trimming the first end of the suture.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a channel for receivingthe first and second ends of the suture.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of threading the first end of the suture through thesecond loop is performed from the top down.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of threading the first end of the suture through thesecond loop is performed from the bottom up.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of threading the second end of the suture through thesecond loop is performed from the top down.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of threading the second end of the suture through thesecond loop is performed from the bottom up.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein “n” and “m” are equal.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein “n” and“m” are not equal.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein “n” equals three(3).
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein “m” equals three (3).